Referred to as the lungs of the Earth, the Amazon basin contains 59% of the world’s tropical rainforests and plays a major role in sustaining life on this planet. But 20% of it has been eradicated over the last 50 years and, if this continued deforestation endures, it could cause the Amazon’s tropical climate to dry out. The REDD+ Maísa project addresses the main drivers of deforestation in Belem’s center of endemism and is rated as a Gold Level GL3 project for its “exceptional biodiversity benefits”. These 658,148 hectares in the Amazon jungle constitute one of the largest remaining forest blocks and were selected as a Key Biodiversity Area because of its global significance in conservation efforts. The project aims to keep the forest standing by developing, implementing and monitoring alternative economic activities that benefit over 300,000 people residing in this area. With the use of satellite images to identify possible sources of deforestation, the REDD+ Maísa project prevents an average annual amount of 67.458,1 tonnes of CO2 equivalent (tCO2e) emissions from being released into the atmosphere.
🐝 Intensive biodiversity conservation of unique flora, fauna and forest ecosystems: research was specifically conducted with the fauna in the project area, approaching the main conservation interest taxa, which are under potential pressure or risk, and also those that should be monitored as indicators, namely: mammalian fauna, avifauna, herpetofauna, ichthyofauna, entomofauna with focus on social bees.
🌿 Tackling the underlying socio-economic drivers of deforestation - subsistence agriculture, fishing and charcoal production - the project brings the alleviation of poverty with sustainable jobs and increased household incomes.
📈 The positive impact of this project is an annual emission avoidance of 67.458,1 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent units (tCO2e) .
🌳 Agroforestry in non-forest invasive species areas creates a healthier biodiversity with nuts, fruit, timber and root produce.
📚 Education and learning on correct forest protection from invasive species and land management to yield the highest amount of carbon sequestration.
The Brazilian Amazon Forest – being the largest tropical forest in the world – is one of the main carbon sinks on the planet. Not only does it help in balancing our climate, but it also protects 10% of the world’s biodiversity and serves as a home for thousands of traditional communities. Deforestation, forest degradation and land-use change (including agriculture and cattle raising) contributed to 23% of all accumulated anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the world between 2007 and 2016.
The Project is located in the State of Pará, Brazil, in the Lower Tocantins, between the Tocantins and Moju Rivers. The Project Area is located within the municipality of Moju and surrounded by the municipalities of Baião, Mocajuba, Tailândia, Goianésia and Breu Branco.
There are eight surrounding communities that are directly or indirectly affected by the project, either by being geographically downstream of the Project Area or providing manpower to Fazenda Maísa, with no communities residing within the Project Area or depending on its natural resources.
Historically, the region is marked by land conflicts started in the 70s with disputes between farmers, land grabbers, squatters and illegal loggers. The ease of access through the PA-150 highway, lack of public policies, weak law enforcement in controlling deforestation and land regularization, and the beginning of real estate speculation have placed the region within the "Arc of Deforestation" or “Arc of Fire”.
As a REDD+ project, Maísa pursues the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and constantly monitors standing forest and biodiversity impact. Achieving a more stable climate through tackling deforestation in the right way, improving food security and creating sustainable livelihoods are objectives and key results of this project.
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